February 11, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Princess Cruises’ second “Cruising for a Cause” voyage set sail from Ft. Lauderdale for a special “cruise with heart” aboard Ruby Princess. Throughout the five-day Caribbean cruise, passengers will celebrate both the “affairs of the heart” over Valentine’s Day, and participate in a variety of onboard activities focused on heart-healthy living and raising funds for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) programs and educational outreach.

An impressive lineup of special guests has joined the ship, including a renowned cardiac surgeon, a celebrity chef, a fitness expert, an award-winning author, a four-time Super Bowl champion, and a beloved cast member from the hit television series The Love Boat.

Among the educational opportunities available exclusively on this cruise are training in the American Heart Association’s Hands-OnlyTM CPR; seminars on how to better manage stress, diet, and exercise; and a survivor’s reception for those who have overcome heart disease. Passengers can also take advantage of complimentary blood pressure screenings and participate in a fundraising walk on deck, patterned after AHA’s successful HeartWalks. Valentine's Day will be especially festive and include an onboard renewal of vows and other romantic touches. The cruise will be capped off with a Ruby Red Gala party.

Special guests appearing exclusively on this sailing include:

Dr. Kathy Magliato, MD, MBA, FACS – Dr. Magliato is one of the few female cardiothoracic surgeons in the world with specialization in heart failure, heart transplantation, and artificial/mechanical heart technology. A nationally recognized expert on heart disease in women, she is currently the Director of Women’s Cardiac Services at Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, California, where she is developing a Multidisciplinary Women’s Health Center to address the cardiac needs of female patients.

Jesse Sapolu – Four-time Super Bowl champion Jesse Sapolu played center and offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers during his 15-year football career. He now serves as the 49ers’ alumni coordinator, and is a motivational speaker and author of the biography “I Gave My Heart to San Francisco.” He is also the co-founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

Ary Nunez – Fitness expert Ary Nunez is a celebrity personal trainer who is passionate about educating people on how to live a healthy lifestyle. In addition to being a Nike-sponsored athlete, health and fitness personality, and an internationally renowned celebrity personal trainer, Nunez holds black belts in karate, tae kwon do and kung fu and has appeared on most major television networks. She is actively involved with many charitable causes including the American Heart Association.

Diana von Welanetz Wentworth – An award-winning author and national speaker on many facets of heart health, Wentworth’s passion for nurturing women’s hearts arose from her own surprising heart attack. Drawing from the recommendations of the American Heart Association, she developed a unique, fun, holistic program of heart-health care that is the topic of her newest book: “Love Your Heart: Follow the Red Thread to a Heart-Centered Life.”

David and Karen Gamow – The authors of “Freedom from Stress,” the Gamows have provided workplace stress management training to clients including NASA, CBS, GE, Marriott, Intuit, Nokia, Stanford School of Medicine, and the U.S. Army. As the founders of Clarity Seminars, they have personally trained more than 20,000 people throughout North America to reduce stress and change their lives for the better.

Bernie Kopell – For 10 seasons, Bernie Kopell looked after the health of passengers aboard TV’s version ofPacific Princess as Doctor Adam Bricker (“Doc”) on The Love Boat. Kopell will be available to meet with and sign autographs for passengers.

A portion of each passenger’s cruise fare will be matched by Princess Cruises with the proceeds going towards the American Heart Association’s work to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The cruise features a Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, with calls at Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website here.

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